looking for surround sound headphones for gaming

[Dimkaumd]

Hey guys,

I am looking to buy surround sound headphones, pref. wireless, for gaming and music for my computer. Could u give me some advice as to what is good and what to watch out for. thanks a lot.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Surround sound and wireless are both going to decrease the quality you're going to get at a given pricepoint.

What kind of budget are you thinking?

 

[viralDNA]

As far as I know, there aren't any real good headphones. My advice is get a Creative X-Fi card and some nice studio headphones. With the X-Fi's CMSS3D it's insane. I play a lot of BF2 and I have an X-Fi Fatal1ty, between my Logitech Z5500 and my Sennheiser 260 Pros, my 260s sound a lot better.

Sennheiser makes some wireless "surround" headphones called the HDR 65. It's not bad for music etc but you can tell you lose some of the dynamic range. Personally I'd go with wired. Not sure how much you're planning to spend but if you do a lot of gaming you owe it to yourself to get an X-Fi. Even cheap Sony's can go surround with the X-Fi's CMSS3D. It's really awesome and worth a look.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: viralDNA
As far as I know, there aren't any real good headphones. My advice is get a Creative X-Fi card and some nice studio headphones. With the X-Fi's CMSS3D it's insane. I play a lot of BF2 and I have an X-Fi Fatal1ty, between my Logitech Z5500 and my Sennheiser 260 Pros, my 260s sound a lot better.

Sennheiser makes some wireless "surround" headphones called the HDR 65. It's not bad for music etc but you can tell you lose some of the dynamic range. Personally I'd go with wired. Not sure how much you're planning to spend but if you do a lot of gaming you owe it to yourself to get an X-Fi. Even cheap Sony's can go surround with the X-Fi's CMSS3D. It's really awesome and worth a look.

Link to the 260s? I haven't read about those.

 

[JAG87]

pretty sure he meant 280 pros..
i have the same they are awesome.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: JAG87
pretty sure he meant 280 pros..
i have the same they are awesome.

I get better results with my Sony MDV-V6. I find the 280 pros horrible for basically any use. IMO. The V6 are cheaper and much better than the 280 pros, even if its made by sony. For true 5.1 headphones the only semi-decent ones I have are the Medusas. The Zalmans stink. The medusas have an external amp and sound fairly decent. My only issue is that the whole room can hear the sound from the medusas. I modded mine and put some sound proofing in the cans. It helps a bit at the sacrifice of minor sound quality.

 

[Ricemarine]

If you want music, um... if you're into bass just get the zalman 5.1's.

If you're partially audiophile, get some hd-280's, and then buy a headphone amp in your price range. You can look on head-fi to see about that.

 

[JMoore]

Id get a HD-595 (50 OHM Version) and then the Xfi Xtreme music card. 50 OHm doesn't really need an amp, but it would help a little. No mic on the HD-590 tho.

Only con in this is both things I listed r expensive.

 

[viralDNA]

Yea the 280s excuse me. Don't spend too much time looking at the side of them with the numbers lol. I'd say almost any studio headphones would do when paired with an X-Fi. Could consider Shure's e2g or e3g possibly. I'm considering trying out the e4g.

 

[Rumple]

I have the Zalman theater 6's paired with an Audigy 2 zs. They are freaking awesome! Right now on zipzoomfly you can pick up a pair of MMgear 5.1s for under $30. They are the same as the zalmans just without the zalman name.

 

[Dimkaumd]

The thing is, I want to spend less than 150, I can sacrifice wireless. and I would like them to have a microphone too. But isnt surround sound better for video games?? I want to be able to know if someone is walking behind me when im playing BF2 or Americas Army!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Dimkaumd
The thing is, I want to spend less than 150, I can sacrifice wireless. and I would like them to have a microphone too. But isnt surround sound better for video games?? I want to be able to know if someone is walking behind me when im playing BF2 or Americas Army!

Then get an X-Fi with the positional audio for headphones and a good pair of stereo headphones.

If you get some good deals you should be able to get a very nice setup going for $150-ish

 

[Dimkaumd]

oh and also can someone give me a link for the X-Fi's CMSS3D card. I found a couple of deals but i dont think its the same card, since they have different versions of the creative X-Fi. thanks again to all !

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

CMSS3D is something you can enable on any of the X-Fi cards.

You'd want to get the X-treme music version.

They were going for as low as $75AR a while ago.

If you could find one for under $100 and then get a good deal on a set of normal stereo headphones you're going to be in really good shape for music and games.

 

[Rumple]

Dont waste money on the Xfi. I would buy a pair of either of these

MMGear

or

Zalmans

They are basically the same headset. I have the Zalmans and i play CSS and BF2. They are awesome for both. And they are cheap.

Buy this microphone which hooks on to either pair of these headphones and works very well

Mic

Pick up this sound card

Audigy 2 ZS

You can probably find one from someone on ebay for dirt cheap since all these people out there seem to think X-fi is needed. I personally feel that the people who upgraded to the xfi from an audigy more than likely are making themselves think its so much better. I highly doubt that anyone in a double blind test could even tell the difference between either sound card 99% of the time. If you already have an awesome rig than by all means blow your cash on an Xfi card. I would if i was already 100% satisfied with every other part of my PC. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with this card and these headphones. I bought mine and 3 of my friends and my brother played a couple rounds of CSS and all went out to buy a pair of their own. They are awesome dont let people who havent tried them knock them (the headset). It is just not the same.

The only other 5.1 headset ive heard good things about is the Medusa's but they are pretty expensive at about $125.

Medusa's

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Rumple
Dont waste money on the Xfi. I would buy a pair of either of these

MMGear

or

Zalmans

They are basically the same headset. I have the Zalmans and i play CSS and BF2. They are awesome for both. And they are cheap.

Buy this microphone which hooks on to either pair of these headphones and works very well

Mic

Pick up this sound card

Audigy 2 ZS

You can probably find one from someone on ebay for dirt cheap since all these people out there seem to think X-fi is needed. I personally feel that the people who upgraded to the xfi from an audigy more than likely are making themselves think its so much better. I highly doubt that anyone in a double blind test could even tell the difference between either sound card 99% of the time. If you already have an awesome rig than by all means blow your cash on an Xfi card. I would if i was already 100% satisfied with every other part of my PC.

The only other 5.1 headset ive heard good things about is the Medusa's but they are pretty expensive at about $125.

Medusa's

Have you tried the X-Fi 3d headphone output?

 

[Rumple]

No i have not tried an X-fi card. I have no doubt it is a really nice card and would love to have one myself. I just cant see spending my hard earned cash on this kind of upgrade. If you are satisfied with every component in your pc and the ONLY thing you could possibly upgrade is the sound card and your headset than by all means purchase it. Im not knocking the X-fi. But for $150 he could actually buy the MMgear headset/zalman mic and the X-fi card. Its just that for almost double the price i dont personally think its worth it.

X-fi

 

[Dimkaumd]

thanks for all the advice, Rumple I think im going to go with your headphones, they look pretty good.

As for the sound card I have to weigh how much money i can spend. I have a new computer, nothing needed except sound card. Since everyone seems to think X-Fi is amazing, i may have to go with it. Thanks to all of you for all the great advice!!

 

[Dimkaumd]

90236 Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** $113.00 1 $113.00
386028 Sennheiser HD280 Closed Dynamic Stereo Headphones (Silver) Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** $87.30 1 $87.30
292402 Zalman ZM-MIC 1 Headphone Mic for ZM-RS6F Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** $12.95 1 $12.95

Sub Total: $213.25
Discount: $0.00
Sales Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $0.00

ORDER TOTAL: $213.25

from zipzoomfly


thanks again everyone!

 

[Broly]

I had sennheiser hd650s and the sound is unlike anything I've ever heard in my life.

I recommend anything sennheiser, they just seem to do a great all around job.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

I picked up a new set of headphones the other day. Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro and they sound exceptionaly well for both music and games!

 

[viralDNA]

Congrats enjoy music and sound now. You get what you paid for and you got some quality stuff. Remember if you're replacing an existing soundcard to clean out your registry and take your time.

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

I recommend using this free program if you're upgrading. I used it and had no problems once so ever with going from Audigy 2 ZS to Fatal1ty.

 

[Dimkaumd]

I am using my motherboard sound card, should i still clean registry or am i good to go?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: Dimkaumd
I am using my motherboard sound card, should i still clean registry or am i good to go?

Remove anything in add and remove programs and disable onboard sound, you should be fine. ONLY worry about playing around with the registry if you get any conflicts. Also make SURE you know what your dong when you edit the registry.

 

[Jules]

id go with the Audigy ZS. I owned both the XFI and the ZS and i ended up selling the XFI mainly due to the price. not worth it for that much sound quality.